September can feel like it’s time for back to school, no matter what age you are! Who else remembers getting their new pencil case, filled with shiny new stationary? Luckily, this same feeling can be recreated with some beauty kit updates!
Autumn is a time of transition and as the days get shorter, the temperature drops and air becomes drier, which means our skin can lose its precious moisture. Post-summer skin can be left feeling dry and neglected after being exposed to the sea, chlorine and the sun, so autumn is the perfect time to correct any summer damage and help to prepare your skin for winter.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating is most probably part of your routine already but the kind you are using can make a big impact! The summer sun may have left your skin feeling dry and flaky, so an oil based exfoliator will help provide extra hydration and help even out the skin tone. It’s important not to skip this step as exfoliating will help to invigorate and re-energise, keeping skin glowing! Give skin a gentle, but thorough scrub with Balance Me Cleanse and Smoothe Face Balm (£20). This multi-purpose polisher is full of hydrating rosehip oil and mango and shea butter, perfect for dissolving daily grime without stripping away the skin’s natural defences.
Our body and limbs shouldn’t be neglected either, even if they are beginning to be covered with jumpers and tights! To save the skin from becoming dull and lacklustre, exfoliate twice a week with a natural based scrub. We recommend Janjira’s Argan Oil Sugar Milky Body Scrub (£26.00), which uses refined sugar to help exfoliate, enhance,smoothen and brighten the skin, while emollient-rich oils help to restore hydration.
Moisturiser
With the air-drying out, our skin becomes thirsty! Sadly, your light summer moisturisers won’t cut it during the colder months. Switching up your moisturiser to a thicker consistency will help to combat the changing seasons and keep your skin not only hydrated but plumped too. It will also help to soothe sun-kissed (or sun-damaged!) skin, help prolong a tan and help replenish elasticity. The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Moisture Cream Limited Edition (£12.00) is ideal as it is rich yet easily absorbed, making it perfect for all skin types.
Lip Balm
Hands up whos lips look worse for wear once the weather turns? Autumn is a good time to start prepping lips so we don’t fall foul to a chapped pout. Keeping lips protected and hydrated is important if you want to keep those new season lipstick colours looking good! Although lips need care all year round, the colder season can be particularly unkind, so to keep our lips luscious we use MOA The Green Balm, £12.50. This cult and multi-purpose product is 100% natural and is crammed with MOA’s hero herb yarrow, which works to heal and repair the skin. Small enough to keep in your bag, this is definitely our everyday beauty essential!
Hands and Nails
Hands and nails can become very dry and sore as the weather turns colder as they are often exposed to the elements, probably more than we realise! The skin on our hands doesn’t produce as much natural oil as the rest of our bodies so they need some extra care to fend of dryness. Pamper your hardworking hands with Odylique’s Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie (£12.00). It is quick absorbing so you don’t have to wait for it to sink in (or smear it over your phone/clothes/keyboard!) It also contains vitamin rich avocado, so your nails are cared for at the same time.
By Emma Weaver